Mohammad Aamer deserves second chance in cricket, despite critics pitching otherwise

Despite a few negative voices around, Aamer's progress and consistency makes him an ideal candidate for Pakistan return.

The third edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is currently underway, with eight matches having already taken place. Among the various performances that the fans have witnessed in the tournament so far, the four-wicket haul of Mohammad Aamer stands out as the one to reckon for international cricket. It was a dominant cry by the left-arm pacer, who had to sit out of international cricket for five long years due to his involvement in one of the gravest crimes in cricket. Amit Banerjee feels that Aamer should progress his way to the Pakistan team, given the current form that he is in, despite the negative vibes that he is currently receiving from all corners.

Pakistan’s pace line-up received its biggest boost in recent times when a young lad from Gujjar Khan made his debut during the ICC World Twenty20 2009. While Mohammad Aamer did not make much of a mark in that tournament, the performances that he would deliver in the coming months would leave several jaws hanging wide open. His remarkable spells in the 2010 tour of England would prompt legends such as Wasim Akram to compare Aamer to himself, stating that even someone like him wasn’t this clever at this age. The good times of course, would come to a screeching halt in September that year, when Aamer would be found guilty of spot-fixing alongside Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, as Pakistan plunged into one of its darkest days. READ: Mohammad Aamer cites BPL as a stepping stone towards achieving goal of Pakistan return

After five years of shame, obscurity and no opportunities to play the sport that he loves — which also included six months at a British prison — Aamer is finally a free man, having served his ban and officially pardoned by the ICC. He is however, far from making a return to the Pakistan team, with several hurdles along the way. Despite putting up impressive performances in the Pakistani domestic circuit, current members of the Pakistan cricket team such as Mohammad Hafeez, as well as retired legends such as Inzamam-ul-Haq, have expressed negative views on the tainted pacer’s return. READ: PCB should not welcome Mohammad Aamer back into national team, says Inzamam-ul-Haq

Even Kevin Pietersen, who himself is fighting to make a comeback to the England side, spoke against Aamer playing in Pakistani colours again.
What these players, as well as a host of other detractors do not realise is the importance of a second chance.  What we are losing by denying Aamer a reprieve in life might be far more valuable than whatever the authorities are trying to achieve by keeping him away from the sport. Imagine missing out on one legendary spell after another in the name of setting an example for future players to follow. Yes, corruption is as much a major issue in cricket as it is in any other sphere of life.

However, people learn from their mistakes in life, and Aamer’s earnest plea to his fans of having learnt his lesson and publicly apologising for the incident is not only rare amongst Pakistani cricketers, but also makes a person worthy of the second chance. The impressive performances following the admissions are to reassure the masses of his ability to emulate the likes of Akram and Waqar Younis, and carve a niche for himself in the sport.

(Amit Banerjee, a reporter at CricketCountry, takes keen interest in photography, travelling, technology, automobiles, food and, of course, cricket. He can be followed on Twitter via his handle @akb287)

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